Texas Representative August Pfluger (TX-11) has secured the passage of the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act, a bill strengthening "American energy dominance."
Celebrating the House's support, Pfluger called it “another major victory in achieving American energy dominance,” said Pfluger. “My legislation reforms the broken, politically weaponized approval process so we can streamline permitting for exporting LNG once and for all.”
The bill eliminates the requirement for the US Department of Energy (DOE) to authorize export of liquified nitrogen gas (LNG). According to a press release, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will have “sole authority over the approval process.”
Pfluger’s bill is an effort to prevent another LNG export ban that occurred during the Biden administration. Despite disapproval amongst some officials, the ban was applauded by climate activists.
“The Biden-Harris administration’s decision to take a deeper look at all the impacts of LNG exports is a major step forward towards protecting our families, our communities, and our climate,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski in a statement released shortly after the ban’s announcement.
The ban began in Jan. 2024, but was lifted a year later under the Trump administration.
“President Biden spent four years pandering to progressive climate extremists and restricted future energy exports instead of unleashing American energy production to provide our allies with a secure, affordable energy source,” Pfluger criticized. “We finally have a President back in office who understands that having efficient, reliable, and affordable energy is the key to U.S. national security.”
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA-04) praised the bill, noting that it “codifies more of President Trump’s executive orders, advances Republicans’ energy dominance agenda, and returns to regular order on LNG exports so America can once again be a leader in the global market.”
The passage of this bill prevents any attempt to ban LNG exports.
The FDEC will have control over the export and import of natural gas to and from foreign countries.
The bill now moves to the Senate for approval.
